Behaviourism Flashcards
What is the primary concern of behaviorism?
Observable behaviour
True or False: Psychology is considered a science.
True
According to behaviorism, what is the state of the mind at birth?
A blank slate
What is the key similarity between learning in humans and animals according to behaviorism?
Little difference
According to behaviorism, how is all behaviour learned?
From environment
Define classical conditioning.
Learning by association involving conditioning of reflexes
Pavlov demonstrated classical conditioning using which animal?
Dogs
What innate bodily reflex did Pavlov associate with a new stimulus?
Salivating
What was the neutral stimulus in Pavlov’s experiment before conditioning?
Tone
What happens after conditioning in Pavlov’s experiment?
Dog salivates at the sound of the tone
Define operant conditioning.
Use of consequences to modify and shape behaviour
What is positive reinforcement?
A reward that increases probability of behaviour occurring in the future
Give an example of positive reinforcement.
Praise, smile, sweets
Define negative reinforcement.
Removal of negative stimulus to encourage specific actions
What is punishment?
An action that decreases the probability of behaviour occurring in the future
Give an example of punishment.
Receiving detention for poor grades
What did Skinner create to study operant conditioning?
Skinner box
What was the purpose of the lever in the Skinner box?
Dispense food when pressed
What is one strength of behaviorism related to scientific credibility?
Theories are tested in controlled, repeatable environments
What method do scientists use in behaviorism to establish cause and effect?
Experimental method
What did Wong (2008) research about video games?
Addictiveness and stimulus/reward system
What neurotransmitter is released as a reward in video games?
Dopamine
What is the difference between negative reinforcement and punishment?
Negative reinforcement removes negative stimulus; punishment adds negative stimulus
What is one criticism of behaviorism related to ecological validity?
Experiments lack ecological validity due to lab conditions
What is a limitation of behaviorism regarding human complexity?
Ignores important mental processes involved in learning
What does behaviorism ignore regarding human behavior?
Free will
